When considering careers in neuroscience, most people think of neurosurgeons. However, there is a variety of interesting career options for those interested in neuroscience.
Exercise
Your instructor will assign you one of the numbered tabs above. Each tab contains information about a specific neuroscience career path. Complete the exercise using the materials in your assigned tab.
Genetic Counselor
Some really cool neuroscience careers are exploring genetics, which is an interesting field from top to bottom. It’s a fairly unexplored career path that has so much potential, with more and more discoveries unfolding as the field expands and research continues to illuminate the mysteries of human genetics.
Genetic counselors work to identify inherited conditions like birth defects and genetic disorders, in patients. They work with healthcare providers to find and assess risks associated with inherited genetic conditions.
Genetic counselors are working with advanced research and applying it at a fundamental level to help patients every day. A genetics counselor has a minimum of a master’s degree in genetics or genetic counseling. Many have gotten their Ph.D.
This is truly a cool neuroscience career.
Speech Language Pathologist
Some neuroscience career paths combine neuroscience and working with patients one-on-one. Speech language pathologists work with individuals to diagnose and treat — or prevent, sometimes — speech and language disorders.
It’s another path that can give the dual satisfaction of working in science and also helping others in a very direct, hands-on kind of way. Some speech language pathologists work in a private practice and many work in schools, helping students. If you love science and working with people, this path could be for you.
Taking this path has a couple of steps. Most will have a master’s degree and then be licensed in the state in which they work. Each state has different standards for licensing.
Cognitive Neuroscientist
A cognitive neuroscientist is fundamentally a researcher, one who digs into the link between cognitive functions and our brains.
It’s a field expanding as our understanding of the brain and cognitive function expands. Researchers often work by creating models through simulations and using advanced equipment to monitor patient brain functions.
Their research is hunting for answers to some of the most pressing questions about our brains and how they work, how they communicate with our body and how they develop.
They definitely where you would work on the cutting edge of research and technology, working to understand the enigma of our brains. Cool neuroscience careers like this one often require an advanced degree.
Natural Sciences Manager
You may not have heard of this job before, but it’s an interesting path for the dabbler. Someone who loves science and seeing work across fields.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook describes the position as a supervisor who oversees research and development activities, working with “scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists.” If you’re looking for cool neuroscience careers that are more abstract, and focus on the “big picture” of science, this could be great for you.
They work to coordinate testing and quality control in labs and other places that research is conducted.
Becoming a Natural Sciences Manager requires a Bachelor’s Degree, usually in natural sciences.
Science Writer
While researchers and scientists are the ones breaking new ground and creating incredible advancements that benefit everyone, someone has to tell people about it. Not all neuroscience degree careers focus on research: in fact, many involve a strong understanding of the terminology and breaking it down to simpler terms.
Some cool neuroscience careers revolve around writing about these advancements. Writing can be a tricky path and can mean many things, but there is a need for science-educated writers who can talk about science and developments for a general audience.
It’s a great path for a lifelong learner who wants to dabble in many areas, meet interesting people and continue to learn new things every day.
A science writer can come from any level of education, even a bachelor’s degree in a science-related field. So pursuing a neuroscience major at the undergraduate level alongside a writing minor could be a great first step to starting a career as a science writer.